Bracket for sheet music



United States Patent [72] inventor John E. Berquist P-O. Box 4632, 1630Overlook Lane, Santa Barbara, California 93102 [21] AppLNo. 696,394 [22]Filed Jan.8,1968 [45] Patented Dec-1,1970

[54] BRACKET FOR SHEET MUSIC 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

52 U.S.Cl. 248/443, 248/226, 248/451: 24/137.5 [51] lnt. Gl0d3/00 soFieldolSeareh 248/443, 451, 441, 446, 453, 226.3, 454(U.S.); 24/137.5,81(1-1S),81

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 96,702 11/1869 Johnson248/441 155,202 9/1874 Nutting.... 248/454 255,649 3/1882 Merrill248/453 552,288 12/1895 Henderson 248/451 Primary Examiner Roy D.Frazier Assistant Examiner-Abraham Frankel Attorney Robert M. DunningABSTRACT: This invention relates to a bracket for sheet music andincludes a panel against which the sheet music may rest, an angularlyrelated spring clamp which may clamp the panel to a supporting object,and a spring clip for holding the sheet music on the panel. The clamp isdesigned for attachment to the neck of a musical instrument such as aguitar or may clamp any flat support such as a chair back or the like.

Patented Dec.. 1, 1970 3,544,056

INVENTOR 555 JOHN 5 BERG u/sr F/G. 2 BY QQMQ ATTORNEY BRACKET FOR SHEETMUSIC This invention relates to an improvement in bracket for sheetmusic and deals particularly with a means of supporting sheet music onvarious horizontal or vertical objects, or on a portion of a musicalinstrument such as the neck of a guitar or other string instrument.

Sheet music used by members of an orchestra is most commonly supportedupon a music stand. While stands of this type are very practical for useby members of a band or orchestra in which the musicians are usuallyseated, they are not particularly practical for musicians who must moveabout to some ex tent while playing. It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a bracket which may be attached to the neck of astring instrument such as a guitar, and may support the music in easilyreadable positions whether or not the musician remains stationary.

The use of music stands of conventional form are also not particularlypractical for use in music classes where a large number of persons arebeing instructed in how to play the instrument. In such cases, musicstands of conventional form often take up excess space. Considerablespace may often be saved by providing a bracket which may be fastened tothe back of a chair or in any other convenient location such as on theinstrument itself so that most of the space required by floor supportedmusic racks may be eliminated.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of abracket for sheet music which may be produced at low cost, and whichwill serve its intended purpose effectively. My bracket may be producedfor a fraction of the cost required to produce a floor supported musicstand, and is considerably easier to transport in view of the fact thatit is light in weight and convenient to carry.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of abracket for sheet music which may be mounted in any of the series ofpositions, and accordingly is capable of supporting the music byattachment to a great number of available supports. For example, thebracket may be attached to the back of a chair, to the side of a chair,to a bench or to a piano to support the sheet material in position whereit may be readily seen by the musician.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of abracket for sheet music which includes three main parts consisting in asupporting panel against which the sheet music may rest, a clampadjustably connected to the panel for connecting the panel to a suitablefixed support, and a clip adjustably secured to the panel and engageablewith an edge of the sheet music to hold the music in place upon thepanel. The clamp is designed for attachment to the panel in any of theplurality of positions, and the music-holding clip may be secured to thepanel to engage the sheet metal regardless of the angular position ofthe panel.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a musical instrumentshowing the bracket in place thereupon.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bracket indicated in FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the clamp portion of thedevice, the position of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of an end of one of the clampinglevers of the clamp, in greatly enlarged form.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of thestructure shown in FIG. 2.

The bracket for supporting sheet music is indicated in general by theletter A. In general, the bracket A includes a panel which is indicatedin general by the numeral 10, a clamp which is indicated in general bythe numeral 11, and a spring clip which is indicated in general by thenumber 12. In the particular arrangement illustrated the bracket A isshown supported upon the neck 13 of a guitar B. As will be understood,

the clamp 11 is designed to clamp any object which is not of too greatthickness, such as a back of a chair, the edge of a desk, the cover of apiano, or any other suitable such object.

The panel includes a generally rectangular body portion 14 having arelatively narrow supporting arm 15 integral with one edge thereof. Themajor portion of the arm 15 is on the plane of the body portion 14 ofthe device. However, the arm is bent at 16, the fold line 16 extendingtransversely of the arm 15 to provide a flange 17. The flange 17 may bein right angular relation to the arm 15, or at a somewhat lesser anglewith respect thereto. A right angularly extending loop 19 may, ifdesired, be provided on the end of flange 17 opposite the fold line 16.An aperture 20 extends through the arm 15 adjacent to the fold line 16and alined with the aperture through the loop 19. The clamp 11 is formedas best illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The clamp 11 includes apair of lever arms 21 and 22 which may be slightly channel-shaped incross section with the open side of the channel facing toward theopposite lever arm. In other words, at least the handle ends of thelevers 21 and 22 are formed as indicated in FIG. 4 with generallyparallel side flanges 24 and 25 on the inner opposed surfaces of thebase portions 23. The sides of the clamping lever arm 21 are providedintermediate their ends with a pair of parallel ears 26 designed tooverlap corresponding cars 27 on opposite side flanges of the lever arm22. A pivot extends through the overlapped ears 26 and 27. A spring 30encircles the pivot 29 between the cars 27, one end 31 of the spring 30engages the inner surface of the lever arm 22. The other end of thespring 30 is provided with an elongated arm 32 which extends somewhatbeyond the lever arm 21 and is provided with a finger-engaging loop 33.The loop 33 normally engages against the base 23 of the lever arm 21,and may be used to clamp the flange 17 of the panel 10 against the leverarm 21. When not in use, the arm 32 may be lifted by the loop 33 andflexed into a notch 34 in one side 25 of the lever arm 21, as indicatedin dotted outline in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

As is indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the side flanges 24 and 25 ofthe lever arm 21 are longitudinally notched as indicated at 35. Thenotches 35 are designed to accommodate the end edge of the flange 17.With this arrangement, the loop 19 illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawingsmay be eliminated if desired. As is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, thehandle end extremity of the lever arm 21 extends through the aperture 20in the arm portion 15 of the panel 10 and the panel may be held in placeby the loop 33 of the spring arm 32 as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 5 of thedrawings.

The music clip 12 includes a strip 36 having rounded ends 37, the stripbeing bent to provide a flat center portion 39 and angularly extendingends 40 angled to the same side of the plane of the center portion 39.In actual practice, the strip 36 may be punched from the body portion 14of the panel 10, providing an opening 41 which may serve as a handle inmoving or carrying the attachment. i

As is indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, a bolt 42 extends through thecenter portion 39 of the strip 36. A friction washer 43 is urged towardthe strip 36 by a spring 44, tension of which may be adjusted by a wingnut 45 on the bolt 42. The body portion 14 of the panel 10 is providedwith a pair of comma-shaped slots 46, each having an enlarged diameterend 47 through which the wing nut 45 and washer 43 may extend and anopposite end 49 of relatively small dimensions which fits snugly aboutthe shank of the bolt 42. The clip 12 is thus held in place by thefrictional engagement of the slip and washer 43 against the body portion14 of the panel 10, the bolt extending through the small dimensional end49 of one of the slots 46.

The clamp 11 is capableof holding the panel 10 in any of a plurality ofpositions. When used upon the neck of the stringed instrument such as aguitar, the end of the lever 21 is inserted through the aperture 20 inthe arm 15, and the'edge of the flange 17 is engaged in the notches 35,the spring loop 33 holding the panel in place. The panel 10 may also besecured flat against the side of the clamp 11 as is indicated in dottedoutline in FIG. 3, of the drawings. As indicated in FIG. 3, one enlargedend 50 of the pivot 29 may be spaced from the side of the clamp toexposea portion of the pivot shank 51.

i The head 50 may be inserted through a keyhole shaped slot or aperture52 in the panel 10, the pivot 29 then frictionally sup-.

' porting the panel 10. The jaw ends 53 and 54 of the lever arms T 21and 22 are preferably enclosed by sleeves or caps 55 of rubber or othercushioning material to protect the support being clamped. These sleeves55 assist in frictionally supporting the panel in place when the panelis supported alongside the clamp as indicated in dotted outline in FIG.3 of the v drawings.

' in accordance with the Patent Office Statutes, l have 1 claim: 1. Abracket for sheet music including: a panel, an angularly extendingflange on an edge of said panel, a clamp detachably secured to saidflange and including a pair of pivotally connected lever armsresiliently urged together at one end thereof, means adapted forsecuring a sheet of music in face contact to said panel, said lever armsbeing resiliently urged together by a spring encircling the pivotpivotally connecting said arms and having one end engaging against onelever arm and having its other end engaging the other lever arm, one endof said spring including finger engaging means by means of .which saidone. end may be moved into and out of lever arm engaging position, saidone end of said spring operating, when in engagement with said lever, toclamp said lever arms against an object therebetween and said flangefrom said panel for attachment to one of said lever arms of said clamp.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which one end of said spring includesloop means by means of which said one. end may be moved into and out oflever arm engaging position.

3. A bracket for sheet music including: a panel, an angularly extendingflange on an edge of said panel, a clamp detachably secured to saidflange and including a pair of pivotally connected lever armsresiliently urged together at one end thereof, means adapted forsecuring a sheet of music in face contact with said panel said leverarms being resiliently urged together by a spring encircling the pivotpivotally connecting said arms and having one end engaging against onelever arm and having its other end engaging the other lever arm, one endof said spring including loop means by means of which said one end maybe moved into and out of lever arm engaging position, and in which thelever arm against which said one end of said spring engages includes anotch adapted to engage said one end of said spring.

4. A bracket panel, an angularly extending flange for sheet music apanel, an angularly extending flange on an edge of said panel, a clampdetachably secured to said flange and including a pair of pivotallyconnected lever arms resiliently urged together at one end thereof, andmeans adapted for securing a sheet of music in face contact to saidpanel, includ ing an aperture in said panel adjoining said flange anddesigned to accommodate an end of one of said lever arms, and includinga loop on said flange adapted to extend about said one lever arm.

5. A bracket for sheet music including: a panel, an angularly extendingflange on an edge of said panel, a-clamp detachably secured to saidflange and including a pair of pivotally connected lever armsresiliently urged together at one end thereof, means adapted forsecuring a sheet of music in fact contact to said panel, said lever armsincluding jaw ends and handle ends, the handle ends being channel-shapedin cross section and in which the ends of the sides of one of saidchannel-shaped handle ends includes longitudinally extending notchesadapted to receiye an ed e of said flan e.

6. The structure of claim 5 an m which sat panel includes an apertureadjacent said flange and accommodating the end of said one handle endwhen said flange is engaged in said notches.

